Archive for June, 2015

We’ve all seen those workplace accident adverts, where someone is injured at work and makes a claim. It all sounds so easy, but in reality, dealing with a workplace accident is a little more complicated.

Sometimes a workplace injury can be as minor as a grazed knee, other times it can be much serious than that. If you have been injured at work, in the aftermath of the accident it can be hard to know how to deal with the situation properly. What are the first steps you should take? Is there someone you should call?

The first thing it’s important to understand is that while you are at work, your employer is responsible for health and safety. While you are at work, your employer has a legal duty to tell you about health and safety procedures and issues that could affect you. Your employer also has the responsibility to report serious accidents, pay you sick pay, and give you as much time off as you need to heal.

If you have been injured at work, knowing what to do can be a little confusing, especially if you are hospital bound. To give you an idea of what you need to do to deal with your accident in the best possible way, we have put together a simple guide, below:

Obviously, whether you can report the accident will depend on how badly injured you are. If you can’t report the accident yourself, ask your manager to do it for you.

Every workplace, except small companies, are required by law, to keep an accident book to record injuries in. So whether you cut your hand or slice off a finger, it’s important that the accident is recorded. If you can, as well as reporting the accident in the accident book, take pictures of your injury and the area where it occurred.

Workplace accident books are mainly there for the sake of employees, as they allow them to report the details of any injuries. That way, if later on, they want to claim compensation or need time off work to heal, the accident has been recorded. (more…)

The thought of going to court isn’t something many of us like to consider on a regular basis. It is an unavoidable eventuality in some scenarios, though. If you find yourself in this type of situation then don’t be scared, be prepared.

There are several ways to prepare yourself for a first court appearance, such as knowing what to wear and how to act on that fateful day. The best way to give your case a solid chance of success is through quality representation. Choosing the right lawyer could either make or break the entire judgement process.

Whilst no two cases are identical, there are a few things to look for when choosing representation. This advice should help you go a long way:

Specialist Of The Field

Law can be broken down into a number of sections and not all attorneys will be suited to dealing with your needs. That won’t necessarily stop them from taking on the job, though. It’s your task to make sure you get the best representation you can.

Research is key and a lawyer directory offers a great starting point. If your attorney is an expert of your field and boasts a promising track record then you’re probably on to a winner.

Available

Another thing to consider is whether your lawyer actually has enough time to deal with your case. Don’t be afraid to ask. The last thing you want is to be fail due to a lack of effort.

If your lawyer isn’t willing to put in the hours of hard graft with research and preparation then you may as well represent yourself. Any quality attorney should be able put your fears at ease before being hired.

Value For Money

It’s not always the case, but money is often at the heart of many court hearings. Even if this isn’t true for your lawsuit, seeking value for money is still key.

Determining what constitutes good value will differ from case to case. The one thing you do want, though, is a set price. Make sure you get any agreement confirmed in writing.

Approachable

This is one quality that is often overlooked, but it is incredibly important. Good communication is key, especially as they will be presenting your case.

As the client, you need regular catch-up sessions with your lawyer to discuss the ongoing developments. If you don’t know what is going on then you’ll be left wondering what is going on. Nobody want to be left in that state of unknowing.

Additionally, you want to build a relationship of trust with your brief. How can you do that if you never have any contact?

Presentation

Most lawyers offer a free initial consultation and you should definitely take them up on this. This is your best chance to gauge the rapport and also analyse their presentation skills.

If they haven’t presented their own talents in a powerful manner then how are they going to express your case in a suitable fashion? Moreover, you can use this opportunity to weigh up the way they conduct themselves in a professional arena.

Should you still have a good feeling about them after this meeting, they’re probably the ideal candidate. Hire. Hire now.